There’s no such thing as a “magic wand,” but as far as skin-care devices go, red-light face wands get pretty close. The reparative effects of this futuristic technology were actually discovered by NASA scientists in space, where astronauts use red lights to grow plants in zero gravity. “Red-light wands use very low levels of red light to help improve the appearance of your skin,” explains Howard Sobel, MD, clinical attending cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. According to Dr. Sobel, red-light therapy can address the majority of the most common skin conditions, working to fade the appearance of fine lines, age spots, stretch marks, and wrinkles, as well as improve redness, wound healing, and acne.
Vogue’s Favorite Red-Light-Therapy Wands:
LightStim LED Light Therapy Device for Wrinkles
Jump to review
Solawave Radiant Renewal 4-in-1 Skincare Wand
Jump to review
To the casual observer, red light just appears to be bathing skin in a crimson glow. But those wavelengths are actually instigating some serious work beneath the skin’s surface: According to Audrey Matney, medical esthetician and founder of 123 Beauty Lab in New York City, red light works by penetrating deep into your dermis to activate your mitochondria (the powerhouses of your cells, as you may recall from Biology 101). “This gives them a serious productivity boost, helping them churn out more ATP, or cellular fuel,” she explains. With more fuel, your cells work harder and more efficiently, resulting in better, healthier skin.
There are countless light-powered devices on the market, from LED face masks to large panels that deliver treatment coverage to the whole body, but one of the most convenient ways to integrate this tech into one’s lifestyle is through handheld tools. Portable and power packed, red-light-therapy wands make it easy to target localized concerns, like glabellar lines (a.k.a. forehead wrinkles) or a particularly stubborn blemish. Here, we share the best red-light therapy wands to rejuvenate skin—plus expert insight on incorporating them into your daily routines.
Best Overall: LightStim LED Light Therapy Device for Wrinkles
- Why We Love It: LightStim’s LED devices can be found in treatment rooms around the world, including Matney’s. “It’s my absolute favorite—a tiny miracle for fine lines and inflammation, with a side of that just-got-a-facial glow,” she says, noting that she uses the professional device at the end of every client’s service. This at-home version features 72 lights (an impressive number for such a portable tool) in amber, light red, dark red, and infrared colors to target different depths of your facial tissue for smoother skin. It’s supported by data too: In clinical studies, 100% of participants showed significant improvement in fine lines and wrinkles in eight weeks with consistent use of the wand.
- Best for: Wrinkles anywhere on the face, including crow’s feet and lip lines
- Specs: FDA cleared, 72 LEDs in four colors (amber, light red, dark red and infrared)
- Usage: Three minutes per facial area, five to seven days a week
#RedLightTherapy #Wands #Firmer #Smoother #Skin
